Your exam Standard Score (SS) - what does it really mean?

EXAM STANDARD SCORE

Navy exams are developed and administered to provide a metric that equitably compares all candidates in the same paygrade and rating. The raw score - number of correctly answered questions on the 175-question exam - of each candidate is converted to a Standard Score (SS) to provide a numeric representation of a candidate's standing compared to everyone else taking the same exam. The exam measures rating knowledge - how much you now about your job. (N32)

August 3, 2010 at 1:18pm

The standard score (SS) is a reflection of how well a candidate did compared to candidate peers taking the same exam. The SS range is 20 to 80. SS changes from exam to exam since the average computations are based on the peer group at the time the particular exam is given.

NOT TRUE: "I scored an 80, so I aced the exam!"

In general, a SS of 80 indicates a candidate scored higher than 99% of the candidates taking the exact same exam (i.e. 99th percentile). A SS of 70 indicates candidate scored higher than 98% of all candidates, 60 indicates 84%, 50 indicates 50%, 40 indicates 16%, 30 indicates 2%, and 20 indicates 1%. It is the SS, not RS that is a component of the final multiple score (FMS). Lastly -- FMS is how a candidate is advanced with the combination of all elements: exam SS, evals (PMA), awards, education, PNA points and service in grade.
(TU)